Table 3.

Comparison of key characteristics among different approaches for identifying sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Diagnostic approach	Author	Audiometric criteria of SSNHLa	Role	Sample size, n	Measurement unit	Sensitivity/specificity, %
Conventional pure-tone audiometry	Stachler et al [1]	A decrease in hearing of ≥30 dB, affecting at least 3 consecutive frequenciesb,c	Gold standard	—d	dB HLe	—
uHear hearing test app	Handzel et al [31]	Hearing loss of at least 2 hearing grades across 3 or more consecutive frequenciesc,f	Smartphone-based test	32	Hearing grade	76.0/91.0
Ear Scale app (current study)	Lin et al [10]	Hearing loss of at least 5 hearing scales differencec	Smartphone-based test	88	Hearing scale	95.5/66.7

^aSSNHL: sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

^bDefinition according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery guidelines [1].

^cHearing loss is defined as related to the opposite ear’s thresholds.

^dnot available.

^edB HL: decibel hearing level.

^fHearing thresholds are grouped into 6 grades (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 2012: normal 0-25 dB, mild 26-40 dB HL, moderate 41-55 dB HL, moderately severe 56-70 dB HL, severe 71-90 dB HL, profound >90 dB HL).